Resource conservation

In the rail infrastructure, there is high demand for resources in our upstream value chain, particularly as a result of our current extensive construction activities. DB Group is aiming to achieve a circular economy throughout the Group by 2040, with a particular focus on Germany. For us, a circular economy means using raw materials sparingly, keeping them in the value chain for as long as possible and, where legally and technically possible, recycling our waste in order to reduce demand for primary raw materials and the volume of waste. This also helps us to reduce our Scope 3 emissions.

Since mid-2026, DB Group has been a member of Institut Bauen und Umwelt e. V. (IBU), an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable construction. The IBU provides an independent information system for construction products and is an international leader in environmental product declarations (EPDs) in accordance with EN 15804. DB Group participated in the IBU’s expert forum in Berlin in June 2026, where it held a presentation outlining the importance of EPDs in managing its climate protection and resource conservation targets.